The peppermint, or Mentha piperita, plant grows freely throughout the United States and is cultivated for its aromatic oil. The leaves of the plant are also valuable for making herbal tea, which is readily available in health food stores.

Pomegranate and cranberry juices are both high in antioxidants and help protect against health risks, such as kidney stones, hypertension and high blood cholesterol. Pomegranate juice contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that protect against free radical production in the body.

Both recovery drinks and protein shakes are designed to maximize the efforts of your workout, but they operate in different ways. For most people who are moderately active, drinking plain water during and after exercise is sufficient.

Cranberry juice is a tart but tasty addition to your diet as an accompaniment to a meal. This juice does contain a lot of calories, so you may wish to choose diet cranberry juice varieties. Understanding the nutritional value of both these types of juice can help you decide which is right for you.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can be difficult to control, and treatments range from dietary changes to medications. Because dietary changes mean restricting what you eat, any new food, especially one that seems to have a major positive effect on high blood pressure, are welcome additions.

Constipation occurs in about half of all pregnant women, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The causes are less physical activity, hormones and taking iron tablets. Whatever the reason, there are steps you can take to help prevent constipation.

Chamomile tea is gentle enough to calm colic-plagued babies, and yet strong enough to induce sleep in adults when used at greater strength. Some people turn to chamomile to address a number of ills, from anxiety to stomach ulcers.

Garlic and ginger tea is a popular folk remedy for ailments ranging from common colds to high blood pressure. While ginger and garlic both have many healthful properties when consumed fresh, it is less clear whether a tea made from these foods has a beneficial impact on circulatory health.

There are many common misconceptions regarding milk, digestion, intolerances and allergies. Your body uses digestive enzymes in the stomach and intestine to help you digest milk protein; supplemental enzymes or other dietary supplements don't have any additional effect.

Creating cocktails, or bartending, can be basic or intricate. Creating simple mixed drinks is easy, but mixing specialty martinis, combination shots and complex concoctions is more difficult.

While you might not think of chocolate milk as your healthiest beverage option, it has a place in a balanced diet. Drinking chocolate milk after your workouts might offer benefits, as Dr. John Ivy, Ph.D.

Fennel is an excellent herb for children with colic and digestive weakness. It enhances digestion and assimilation of food. Fennel is perhaps the mildest and safest drug to relieve abdominal pain, spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence and gas.